When you think of spring, the flowering dogwood tree pops into mind. Who doesn't love seeing the dogwood tree's profusion of beautiful spring floral displays almost every where you go after what seemed to be a long, dreary winter!
To welcome spring, have I got a fun upcycle project with a dogwood theme you have to try! Can you imagine creating a beautiful dogwood stem using soda can aluminum and a craft flower punch? Yes, that's right! I'm going to show you how to cut, punch, paint faux dogwood blooms out of soda cans using a flower punch! How cool does that sound! Here's how!
Supplies you will need:
- Clean Aluminum Soda Cans
- Utility knife/craft knife
- Craft Scissors
- Flower Petal 3" punch
- Needle nose pliers
- All purpose quick dry adhesive
- White Chalk, pink acrylic craft paint/brush
- Skewer stick
- Green faux stamen
- Floral wire
- Coat hanger
- Floral tape
- Shadowbox
Instructions:
Carefully cut off the top end of a clean soda can using a utility knife. Be careful! You may want to wear gloves for this as a precaution, but I've cut lots of soda cans and thank goodness, I have never had an accident with the sharp, jagged edges.
Once the top end is removed, cut off the bottom end the same way. Be sure to start the cut pass the curve of the can. Leaving the curve portion on makes it difficult to lay the aluminum flat.
Then make a vertical cut with scissors across the can to open the aluminum. . . .Smooth out the curve of the can by rolling the aluminum in the opposite direction or rolling on the edge of a table or countertop.
Insert the aluminum piece into the flower punch so you can see that the aluminum is completely under the shape and then punch the flower out. Once the flower is punched, adjust the aluminum to punch another one. You may need small needle nose pliers to pull the left over aluminum out.
Then paint each flower with white chalk paint . . .
using the end of a skewer stick to hold the flower while painting and let dry. Turn over and paint the opposite sides and let dry, too.
Since the dogwood bloom is composed of four bracts (petals) each petal on the punched out flower must be cut into separate pieces . . .to form the dogwood flowering shape.
Then cut out the leaves using a free-hand design.
Use the tip of a small metal screw drive or ice pick to add veins and . . .then paint them green.
Once the stamen is wrapped add Quick Hold glue around the base . . .
and begin adding on the bracts. one at a time . . .
in a cross design . . .
until all four bracts are glued on.
Make four more this way.
Add floral stem wire to center back of the leaves using glue. Then connect the leaves to the stem wire using floral tape . . .
Cut thicker pieces of wire from a coat hanger for the main stem. Wrap with floral tape adding the smaller leaf stems and dogwood blooms . . .
for a decorative look!
Welcome to our monthly DIY Challenge hosted by Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip! On the first Wednesday of the month, Terrie hosts a DIY Challenge with a group of talented bloggers who love to create budget friendly décor for their homes. For the month of March, we were tasked with creating a Spring Upcycle DIY.
Gather faux green stamen, doubling it around stem wire and wrap in floral tape for the dogwood flower center. Cut off the excess stamen thread . . .
and continue wrapping the stem wire with floral tape.Once the stamen is wrapped add Quick Hold glue around the base . . .
and begin adding on the bracts. one at a time . . .
in a cross design . . .
until all four bracts are glued on.
Make four more this way.
Add floral stem wire to center back of the leaves using glue. Then connect the leaves to the stem wire using floral tape . . .
Cut thicker pieces of wire from a coat hanger for the main stem. Wrap with floral tape adding the smaller leaf stems and dogwood blooms . . .
for a decorative look!
Welcome to our monthly DIY Challenge hosted by Terrie @Decorate and More with Tip! On the first Wednesday of the month, Terrie hosts a DIY Challenge with a group of talented bloggers who love to create budget friendly décor for their homes. For the month of March, we were tasked with creating a Spring Upcycle DIY.
If you're coming over from Liberty @B4 & Afters, welcome! To see more upcycle ideas click on the blog titles below to check out their awesome upcycle creations!
Wow Gail, how cute and clever this is!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jenna! I really like how it turned out, too - can't wait for the real dogwoods to bloom!
DeleteI never would imagine this pretty dogwood stem was made from a coke can. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteSo cute and clever. You always amaze me. Happy March Gail.
ReplyDeleteWow! that is an awesome upcycle! Gail this is amazing. My Granny used to make doll house furniture out of cans when I was young. They'd be this really swirly looking wicker chair or bed. I was amazed then as I am now. So cleaver!!!! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWow, you have serious talent and patience. They look so beautiful I would have never known they were from pop cans. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYou are beyond creative, Gail! This project is absolutely amazing! I seriously never would have thought these gorgeous blooms were made from a soda can! And I agree, it looks like you're an experienced soda can cutter. I would have cuts everywhere, LOL!
ReplyDeleteUn trabajo excelente, bello y elegante.
ReplyDeleteBesos
Gail, this is so beautiful! You're one creative lady. I love dogwoods. These flowers look so much like them.
ReplyDeleteLove it!
Cindy
OMG! How amazing. You are so talented. Love how you used things on hand to make the most incredible flower stem. Nice job, Gail!!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe that is from a can. Amazing transformation! And what a lovely 3D afffect.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautiful! I never would have guessed it was made out of a can. Genius!!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty, Gail - pinned.
ReplyDeleteSheila
So very beautiful Gail!!!
ReplyDeleteYou make this look so easy. I'd probably cut myself a lot while cutting the soda pop can! Thanks so much for sharing this at our Party in Your PJs link party.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and unique project, Gail! I'm delighted to be featuring you at Tuesday Turn About tomorrow! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteI see it with my own eyes and still can't believe it! So delicate and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteReally stunning!
xo Lisa S
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
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ReplyDeletedogwood seedlings